Oil well pump



April 13, 1965 J.'R. MCOY ETAL OIL WELL PUMP 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 00? 11, 1961 lllll INVENTORS JAMES R07 M660? JOHN/P4 (IL REEVEQ ATTORNEY J. R. M coY ETAL April 13, 1965 I OIL WELL PUMP 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 11. 1961 711.54 a a hilly! INVENTORS JAMES gov Mc0v (IOHN PA!!! REEVES ATTORNEY chambers." i

United States. Patent 3,177,943 H. WELL PUMP Iames Roy McCoy, Lubbock, and .lohn Paul Reeves, New Deal, Tex., assignors to Harvest Queen Mill & Elevator Company, Plainview, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed 0st. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 144,405 4 Claims. (83H. 166-68) .ing the oil to the surface because the pump will vibrate the installation. The pump vibration will tend to loosen mechanical elements which are attached together. We have found that if the pump is isolated from the mechanical elements by O-rings and swab cup type packers that the vibrations will not loosen them. This is because the swab cup type packer will dampen the vibrations, which 7 must also pass through the O-rings to reach the mechani- V cal elements.

An object of this invention is to provide a tool so that any one of several strata may be individually connected to a single pump deep within the earth so that the fluid within that stratum may be pumped to the surface of the earth.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool which is'connected to the surface of the ground by only a single tube and sucker rods, thus avoiding a multiplicity of tubes extending from the surface of the ground.

Further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, simple, and reliable, yetinexpensive and easy to manufacture.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects,,uses, and advantages thereof will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanyingdrawings, the different views of which are not necessarily to the-same scale, in which: f FIGS. 1 and 1A are a view of the well, partially in sections showing the various elements of a device to this-invention; 7

FIG. ,2 is an axial sectional view of the jacklocated V .on'the'surface of the ground.

according FIG. -3 is an axial view of the pump and connector.v FIG; 4 is a cross sectional viewof a portion of the connector. taken online 4-4, FIG. 3. r

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the upper packer. FIG. 6. is an elevational disassembled view of the upper packer.

FIG. 7 is a view of the mandrel of the upper packer.

FIG. 8 is an axial sectional View ofthe inner and outer sleeves and valve. chambers.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the outersleeve with the valve chambers thereon.

FIG. 10 is an elevational viewof the inner sleeve. FIG. 11 is across sectional view of the valves taken on line 11, 11- of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a detail of the valves of one of the valve FIG. 13 is a view partially'in" section of 'the lower packer. a

'- As may be seen in the accompanying drawings, the

22 which extends deep within the earth.

' be extracted. More perforations are adjacent the middle short distance. .The top of pipe 48 is capped to prevent sleeve. Therefore, there is'formed a lower passageway they will not be described further.

stratum 26 and lower stratum 28.

The outer sleeve 29 has upper packer 30 attached to it which forms a seal between the outer sleeve 20 and casing 22. This upper packer forms a seal between the upper stratum 24 and middle stratum 26. The packer 30 is in the form of two swab cups. Upper swab cup 32 is facing upwardly so as to prevent oil from the upper stratum 24 from flowing down into either the middle stratum 26 or lower stratum 28. Lower swab cup 34 is facing downwardly to prevent oil from the lower strata 26 and 28 from flowing upward.

Spaced on the outer sleeve 26 at some point below the upper packer 30 is lower packer 36. The lower packer is an. expansion packer which when .expandedprevents the flow of oil to or'from the lower stratum 28. When contracted, it permits the free flow of fluid around it. It is located between the middle stratum 26 and the lower stratum 28. The lower packer 36 likewise forms a seal between the outer sleeve 20 and the casing 22.

.In connection with the lower packer 36, there are slips 38. The slips are of that type which upon rotation of the outer sleeve 24) .(to be explained later) will anchor the outer sleeve 26 to the casing 22. Upon rotation of the outer sleeve 20 in the opposite direction, they will release this attachment. Since slips and expansion packers which are responsive to'rotation of their carrying member are well known to the art and since the slips and expansion packers as such form no part of this invention,

The outer sleeve 29 has attached thereto as many valve chambers as strata to be tapped. As the instant embodiment is being described tapping three strata, there would i be three valve chambers, the upper valve chamber 40,

the middle valve chamber 42, and the lower valve chamber 44. These valve chambers are attached to the outer sleeve by any convenient means such as studs extending through a flange of the valvechamber and tapped into the outer sleeve. Seals are provided between the valve chambers and sleeve. the skill of those familiar with the art to attach a chamber to the outside of the tubular member such as the cute sleeve 2%, it will not be further. discussed.

The portion of the outer sleeve 29 to which the upper packer 30 is attached is double walled as explainedlater.

Upper passageway 46 ispartially within the outer sleeve 29. Pipe 48 is attached to the top of the portion of passageway 46 in the outer sleeve and extends upwarda debris from falling init and it is perforated around the slde to permit the entrance of fluid Within it. A second 7 pipe 50 is connected from thebottom of the portionof upperpassageway 45 in the outer sleeve to the upper .valve chamber 49. The opening through the center of V the pipes 48 and 50 completes the passageway from above the upper packer 30 to the upper valve chamber 40.

Pipe 52 is connected to the valve chamber and outer tube. and extends from the lower valve chamber 44 to an opening in the outer tube, just above the lower packer 36. The outer tube. 20 is without obstructions from this point to below the lower packer 36 and has perforations,

53 in the bottom thereof. Inner sleeve 54 is terminate d above the po nt of the entrance of pipe 52 into theyouter from lower valve chamber 44; to inside casing 22 below i the lower paclrer 36. i

The middle valve chamber 42 has'a plurality of openings 43cm the outsidefwhich open to that annular space.

Patented Apr. 13, 1965 Inasmuch as it is well within 40, 42, and 44 on theouter sleeve.-

the cam 66, corresponding to chamber 40, is depressing I those valves, the cams for valve chambers 42 and 44' are 7 Thus, it may be seen that we have provided means for individually connecting the upper stratum 24 to valve chamber 40, the middle stratum 26 to middle valve cham- .ber 42 and lower stratum 28 to 1valve chamber 44. Also, it may be seen that with one tool, the valve chambers and packers may be a fixed distance apart resulting in a standardized design regardless of the distance between the upper stratum 24 and lower stratum 28 provided that :the packers are of a greater width than the widthof the perforations in casing 22 for therniddle stratum 26.

'Each valve chamber has a five ball valve within it. Each valve has a valve seat 56 threaded through the outer sleeve 20 and provides a passageway from within the valve chamber to within the outer sleeve 20- A ball valve 60 sits upon each of the valve seats 56 within the valve chamber. valve seat 56 by spring 62 whichextends from the ball .Valve to cover 58 of the valve chamber. 60 projects through the valve seat 60 to within the outer Each ball valve .60 is held against the Each ball valve sleeve.

As described above,-the outer sleeve 20 may be anchored'to the casing 22 by slips 38. The inner sleeve -4 is connected to the outer sleeve by connector 64. The

with respect to the outer sleeve 20. A seal at the connector is provided to prevent fluid from flowing outside of the outer sleeve to the annular space between the inner sleeve 54 and the outer sleeve 20. The outer sleeve 20 terminates at the connector 64.

Theinner sleeve. 54 has areaspf small diameter.

Should inner sleeve 54 have one of the areas of smaller :diameter. opposite the ball valve 60, the inner sleeve will not depress the ball valve against the seat 56 so that the valve remains in the normal closed position. However,

I if one ofthe earns 66 which are projecting further from .the axis of the inner sleeve 54 than the area of small diameter project, then cam 66 will press against the balls thus depressing the balls from the seat and thus. open the valves. The cams 66 are formed as a ridge along the outer surface of the inner sleeve 54. There is a groove on either side ofeach cam 66 with a plurality of-perfora- .tions 68 therethrough to permit the fluid from flowing from the "annular space. between the inner sleeve 54 and outer sleeve 20 to within the inner sleeve.

Between the earns 66 are seals 70 which form a fluid tight seal between the inner sleeve 54 and outer sleeve 20. Thus, if the fluid pressure in one of the oil-bearing strata is I greater than in another stratum, this prevents the greater pressure from opening the valves.

.The cams 66 are spaced closer together on the inner sleeve 54 than the spacing between the valve chambers Therefore, when above those valve chambers. When-the inner sleeve 54 is moved down relative to the outer'sleeve 20, the'proper cam 66 will be opposite valve 42 opening those. valves.

However, the upper cam 66 will be below the upper valve chamber 40 and the lower cam will be above the lower valve chamber 44. When the lower cam 66 is opposite the lower chamber 44 the middle valve cam is below valve chamber 42 and the upper cam 66 is below valve chamber 40. a

The connection 64 is provided with a means atthe top thereof to connect to tube 74 whichiextends to the top of the earth. Jack 76 atthe top of the earth provides means to move the tube up and down. The tube 74 is connected to the inner sleeve 54 in connector 64, therefore, movement of the tube will cause inner sleeve 54 to move up. and down to selectively open the valves of: the

to the surface of the earth.

. 4 valve chambers 46, 42, and 44. There is a continuous passageway from within the inner sleeve 54 to tube 74 Depending upon which of the valves are open, a passageway is provided from one and only one of the strata to the top of the earth.

Inasmuch as the pressure of the fluids in the various strata are not sufiicient to raise the fiuidsto the top of the earth pump '78 islocated within the tube 74 immediately above the connector 64. One of the limitations of this tool in operation is that the pressure within the lower stratum 28 must be .sulficient to raise the fluid in that stratum to a point above the elevation of the top of the middle stratum 26 so that it will reach the pump 78. The pump 78 is a conventional pump which is W611 known to the art and is operated by sucker rod 80 which extends to the top of the earth. The sucker rod '80 is caused to reciprocate by a mechanism whichis well known to the art and which will not be described further. Of course, it will be understood that each time the tube '74 is raised or lowered to operate the different valves of valve chambers 40, 42, or 44, it is necessary to likewise raise the sucker rod 80 a corresponding amount so that the piston of the pump reciprocates within its cylinder properly.

' seal 108 and seals operate upon the portionsof greater the outer sleeve 20 within certain limits.

The jack 76 includes base 82 which connects to casing 22. Worm wheel 84 is supported by thrust bearings 86. The worm wheel is rotated by worm 88 which is mounted for rotation on the base 82. The worm wheel has threaded hollow shaft 90 extending upward therefrom. Nut 92 meshes with the threads of the hollow shaft "90 so that rotation causes the nut 92 to reciprocate upward and downward. The nut extends upward to a point above the base 82 when it is capped with cap 94. The cap has a central hole therethrough whereby the tube 74 is suspended by slips 96. Key 97 on the outside of nut 92 fits will raise or lower the tube 72 and thus the inner sleeve T The connector 64 includes a hollow splined mandrel 98 which connects to the bottom of tube 74. This splined mandrel passes through the extreme upper end of the outer sleeve 20 where cap 100 has an internal opening therethrough of correlative shape to the outside of splined mandrel 98. On the bottom of the splined mandrel 98 is disc 102 which fitsin the top of the outer sleeve 20. Therefore, it limits the upwardtravel of the mandrel 98 by striking the cap 100. Normally, the upward travel of the disc 102 is limited by shear pin 104 which extends through the outer sleeve 20 to interceptthe travel of disc 102.- There is an opening 106 immediately below the cap Inner sleeve 54 is connected to the bottom of disc 102;

therefore, it may beseen that the translational movement of tube 74 is transmitted to the inner sleeve 54, but not However, rotation of the tube 74 is transmittedto both the inner sleeve and outersleeve. V

At the bottom of the connector 64 there is a seal'108 between the outer sleeve 20 and inner sleeve 54. This seal works on a portion of the inner sleeve 54 of larger diameter. The seals 70, likewise, operate on a portion of the inner sleeve 54 of a larger'diameter.

The tool is proportioned and constructed so that as long as the disc 102 is below theshear pin 104 that the diameter. of the inner sleeve 54. However, if the shear pin '104 is sheared, the'n the area opposite seal 108 an area of smaller diameter of inner sleeve 54 and the'portion of inner sleeve opposite each of the seals 70 is an area of smaller diameter. Therefore,.there is a fluid passageway along the annular space between the outersleeve 20 and inner sleeve 54 from top opening 106 to perforations 53 in the bottom of the outer sleeve. This prevents an chamber 42. However, the tool is foolproof in this respect because if upon going down the fluid under swab cup 34- causes the outer sleeve 20 to move upward relative to the inner sleeve 54, the inner sleeve will therefore open the lower valve chamber 44 and inasmuch as the lower packer 36 will be in the constricted position there will be a flow of fluid from beneath the lower swab cup 34 through the lower valve chamber 44 up through the tool preventing a blocking of the tool.

The swab cups 32 and 34- are connected to a central ringllll. They fit over enlarged portion of the outer sleeve 20 which is designated as mandrel 112. The mandrel has a groove 114 out along one side. There is an 'O-Iing immediately adjacent to threads at each end of the mandrel 112. Upper cylinder 116 and lower cylinder 118 telescope around mandrel 112 with the ring 110 in the center. Therefore, couplings 120 on either end will cause there to be an upper passageway 46 as described above.

The upper cylinder 116 has connected thereto it pipe 48 as the lower cylinder 118 has connected thereto pipe 59 as described.

Although this tool has been described as adapted for three strata it will be understood that the tool is readily adaptable for operating for more than three strata. If there were four strata another packer assembly is placed above the upper packer and a pipe extended to connect the topmost stratum around the packers to a valve chamber. Thus, it may be seen there is nothing inherent in the tool to limit it to operation with only three strata, but it could work for more with additional valve chambers and packers.

It will be apparent that the embodiment shown is only exemplary and that various modifications can be made in construction, materials, and arrangement within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. An apparatus for operation in connection with a well having a casing extending deep within the earth, said casing perforated in a middle zone and at least two other zones, said device comprising:

(a) a tube extending from the surface of the earth to deep within the earth,

(b) a jack interconnecting the casing and tube for raising and lowering the tube relative to the casing,

(c) an outer sleeve located in said casing at the elevation of the middle perforated zone,

(d) means on said outer sleeve for anchoring said outer sleeve to the casing,

(e) a connector means for connecting the tube and outer sleeve,

( a pump in said tube immediately above said connector for pumping any fluids at that point to the surface of the earth,

(g) an inner sleeve telescoped within said outer sleeve connected to said tube at the connector,

(12) a packer on the outside of the outer sleeve, said packer forming a seal between the outer sleeve and casing above the middle perforated zone,

(i) a second packer on the outside of said outer sleeve providing a seal between the outer sleeve and the casing below the middle perforated zone,

(i) an upper valve chamber on the outside of the outer.

sleeve between the two packers,

(k) a passageway connecting said upper valve chamber (m) a lower valve chamber on the outside of the outer sleeve between the two packers, i i

(n) a lower passageway interconnecting the lower valve chamber to thespace within the casingand below said lower packer,

(0') each of said valve chambers having valves opening from the respective valve chamberto within the outer tube,

(p) means on the inner sleeve for selectively, individually opening the valvesof onevalve chamber,

said means for opening said valves responsive to translational movement of said inner sleeverelative to said outer sleeve,

(q) said inner sleevehaving perforations so that fluid may pass from outside said inner sleeve to within said inner sleeve, 7

(r) and seals between the inner and outer sleeves isolating each means for opening said valves and perforations associated therewith from the means for opening the other said valves immediately adjacent thereto.

2. A tool for operation in a well having a casing extending deep within the earth, said tool comprising:

(a) a cylindrical outer sleeve,

(b) an upper packer attached to the outer sleeve to form a fluid tight seal between the outer sleeve and the casing,

(c) a set of slips on the outer sleeve for anchoring said outer sleeve to the casing,

(d) a lower packer spaced below said upper packer attached to the outer sleeve to form a fluid tight seal between said outer sleeve and said casing,

(e) at least two valve chambers on the outer sleeve,

(1) the valve chambers between the upper and lower packers,

(g) an upper passageway leading from outside the outer sleeve above the upper packer to one of said valve chambers,

(h) one of said valve chambers opening outside the outer sleeve between the upper and lower packer,

(i) an inner sleeve telescoped within the outer sleeve,

(j) valves in each valve chamber in a normally closed 7 position for prohibiting fluid from the chamber to flow to within the outer sleeve, I

(k) a means for each valve chamber on the inner sleeve for opening the valves of said valve chamber,

(1) said inner sleeve having perforations adjacent said means for opening the valves to permit fluid to flow within the inner sleeve,

(m) fluid tight seals located between the several means for opening the valves, said seals between the inner sleeve and outer'sleeve,

(n) a connection at the top of said inner sleeve so that a tube may be connected to the top of the tool to the top of the earth,

(o) and said connection including means for manipu- 'lating the outer sleeve for setting and releasing said s 1138. r t 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said valves include a (p) a valve seat set in the outer sleeve (q) a ball valve in the valve chamber on the valve seat, (r) a spring biasing the ball valve on the seat, (.9) said ball valve projecting within said outer sleeve, (1) and a cam on the inner sleeve projecting from the inner sleeve, adapted to push the ball valve from its seat. a 4. A tool for operation in a well having a casing entending deep within the earth, said casing perforated iniat least two zonesfor admission of fluids, said tool comprising:

(a) a cylindrical outer sleeve,

(b) anupper packer attached to the outer sleeve-to form a fluid tight seal between the outer sleeve and r the casing, V A v 1 (0) la set oflslips .onLthe outer :sleeve for anchoring said outer sleevetouthe casing,

'(d) at least two valve ,chamberston the outer sleeve, (6) Zone of said charnbers :having a fluid passageway opening above said packer,

(flanother of said chambers, having a fluidpassage- 'Way" opening .belowlsaid packer,

V (g) an inner sleeve telescoped within the outersleeve, h) "valvesiin each valve chamber. in a normally closed ..;position foriprohibiting fluid from the chamber to 10 flow to within' the outer sleeve,

1 (1) each ofsaidyalves including-Ya valve seat set in the outer sleeve,

(m) acarn on theinner sleeve projecting fromthe inner sleeve, adapted to push the ball valve from its seat, 1 (11) said inner sleeve having perforation adjacent said cam-for permitting fluid to flow within the inner sleeve, (0) and means for moving the inner sleeve within the outersleeve so asto move the cam to and away from the ball valve.

References'Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,916,875 7/33 Yarbrough 166-106 X 2,210,245 *8/40 Kimmel 166-146 2,341,832 2/44 Verheul et al 166-446 15 2,868,296 1/59 Payne 166--l46X CHARLES E. OCQNNELL, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR OPERATION IN CONNECTION WITH A WELL HAVING A CASING EXTENDING DEEP WITHIN THE EARTH, SAID CASING PERFORATED IN A MIDDLE ZONE AND AT LEAST TWO OTHER ZONES, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A TUBE EXTENDING FROM THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH TO DEEP WITHIN THE EARTH, (B) A JACK INTERCONNECTING THE CASING AND TUBE FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE TUBE RELATIVE TO THE CASING, (C) AN OUTER SLEEVE LOCATED IN SAID CASING AT THE ELEVATION OF THE MIDDLE PERFORATED ZONE, (D) MEANS ON SAID OUTER SLEEVE FOOR ANCHORING SAID OUTER SLEEVE TO THE CASING, (E) A CONNECTOR MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE TUBE AND OUTER SLEEVE, (F) A PUMP IN SAID TUBE IMMEDIATELY ABOVE SAID CONNECTOR FOR PUMPING ANY FLUIDS AT THAT POINT TO THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH, (G) AN INNER SLEEVE TELESCOPED WITHIN SAID OUTER SLEEVE CONNECTED TO SAID TUBE AT THE CONNECTOR, (H) A PACKER ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE OUTER SLEEVE, SAID PACKER FORMING A SEAL BETWEEN THE OUTER SLEEVE AND CASING ABOVE THE MIDDLE PERFORATED ZONE, (I) A SECOND PACKER ON THE OUTSIDE OF SAID OUTER SLEEVE PROVIDING A SEAL BETWEEN THE OUTER SLEEVE AND THE CASING BELOW THE MIDDLE PERFORATED ZONE, (J) AN UPPER VALVE CHAMBER ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE OUTER SLEEVE BETWEEN THE TWO PACKERS, (K) A PASSAGEWAY CONNECTING SAID UPPER VALVE CHAMBER TO THE ANNULAR SPACE ABOVE THE UPPER PACKER BETWEEN THE CASING AND OUTER SLEEVE, (L) A MIDDLE VALVE CHAMBER ON THE OUTSIDE OF SAID OUTER SLEEVE BETWEEN THE TWO PACKERS, SAID MIDDLE VALVE CHAMBER HAVING PASSAGEWAYS CONNECTING IT TO THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO PACKERS, (M) A LOWER VALVE CHAMBER ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE OUTER SLEEVE BETWEEN THE TWO PACKERS, (N) A LOWER PASSAGEWAY INTERCONNECTING THE LOWER VALVE CHAMBER TO THE SPACE WITHIN THE CASING AND BELOW SAID LOWER PACKER, (O) EACH OF SAID VALVE CHAMBERS, HAVING A VALVES OPENING FROM THE RESPECTIVE VALVE CHAMBER TO WITHIN THE OUTER TUBE, (P) MEANS ON THE INNER SLEEVE FOR SELECTIVELY, INDIVIDUALLY OPENING THE VALVES OF ONE VALVE CHAMBER, SAID MEANS FOR OPENING SAID VALVES RESPONSIVE TO TRANSLATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID INNER SLEEVE RELATIVE TO SAID OUTER SLEEVE, (Q) SAID INNER SLEEVE HAVING PERFORATIONS SO THAT FLUID MAY PASS FROM OUTSIDE SAID INNER SLEEVE TO WITHIN SAID INNER SLEEVE, (R) AND SEALS BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER SLEEVES ISOLATING EACH MEANS FOR OPENING SAID VALVES AND PERFORATIONS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FROM THE MEANS FOR OPENING THE OTHER SAID VALVES IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THERETO. 